Carnegie Mellon University
Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more here.
Do you have any information, updates, or changes regarding the policies at this institution? Let us know!
On this page, FIRE has excerpted policies that address speech and expression. You may download the full policy in .pdf form, below.
Restrictions on Expressive Rights
Harassment Policies (Learn More)
Student Handbook: Community Standards, Policies and Procedures - Sexual Harassment 12-13
The definition of sexual harassment as formulated by the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has been adapted for our educational environment. The adapted EEOC definition is any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or
creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
View full policy (PDF, 597 KB).
Student Handbook: Community Standards, Policies and Procedures - Discriminatory Harassment 12-13
Acts of discriminatory harassment or intimidation by a student directed toward any member of the community are inconsistent with this commitment and will not be tolerated. Consistent with the University's Statement of Assurance, prohibited acts include harassment and intimidation motivated by discriminatory intent based on race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information.
View full policy (PDF, 28 KB).
Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)
Student Handbook: Community Standards, Policies and Procedures- Disorderly Conduct 12-13
Disorderly conduct is ordinarily defined as the use of abusive or obscene language or gestures to/by a member of the campus community ....
View full policy (PDF, 29 KB).
Internet Usage Policies
Computing Policy 12-13
The following activities are expressly prohibited at Carnegie Mellon: ... Using mail messages to harass or intimidate another person (such as by repeatedly sending unwanted mail or broadcasting unsolicited mail).
Any communications that would be improper or illegal on any other medium are equally so on the computer: libelous material, obscene messages, harassment, forgery, threats, etc. However, this is not intended to restrict the free expression of ideas.
View full policy (PDF, 516 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Community Standards, Policies and Procedures- Freedom of Expression Policy 12-13
Carnegie Mellon University values the freedoms of speech, thought, expression and assembly-in themselves and as part of our core educational and intellectual mission. If individuals are to cherish freedom, they must experience it. The very concept of freedom assumes that people usually choose wisely from a range of available ideas and that the range and implications of ideas cannot be fully understood unless we hold vital our rights to know, to express, and to choose. The university must be a place where all ideas may be expressed freely and where no alternative is withheld from consideration. The only limits on these freedoms are those dictated by law and those necessary to protect the rights of other members of the University community and to ensure the normal functioning of the University.
On Carnegie Mellon's campus, anyone may distribute printed material, offer petitions for signature, make speeches, and hold protests or demonstrations outside university buildings.
View full policy (PDF, 36 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in April 2013. According to FIRE’s research the substantive policies are current at least until this date. Directory information, including the name of the president of the college or university, may have been updated more recently. If any policy has been revised, or if you believe that we are in error, please contact us.
